Envelope handling machine



Sept. 20, 1932.

A. GAY I ENVELOPE HANDLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 4, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet l.

INVENTOR zeZ 6 lllllll I/IIflIiIJPII hl I -I FIII-Ill IHHHHVIIIII I N L M,

%2'5 ATTORNEY Sept. 20, 1932. A, GAY

ENVELOPE HANDLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 4, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVENTOR 262 5 %z's ATTORNEY 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 4, 1930 lNVENTOR Sept. 20, 1932. A GAY 1,877,842

ENVELOPE HANDLING-MACHINE F'iled Dec. 4, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 YINVENTOIIR Sept. 20, 1932. A. GAY 1,877,842

ENVELOPE HANDLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 4, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 H mm I A qi ilwi A I mi INVENTOR -zeZ %Z16 ATTORNEY 2Q 1932. A, AY 1,877,842

ENVELOPE HANDLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 4, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTQR w lfSA'ITORNEY AZE'L GAY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MULTIPOST 00., OF

Patented Sept. 20, 1932 minivan stares earner Jessica NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK nnvnnorn nannnrne MACHINE Application filed December 4, 1930; Serial No. 500,015.

scribing their accurate and single path of travel through all or any one of the mechanisms mentioned. A further object of the invention is to accomplish this result through the medium of actuaries that cooperate with the flap of the envelope or corresponding package or container to efiect transference thereof from the holding or stacking element to the feeding devices.

To these and other ends, the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings: I I

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of an envelope sealing, feeding, and delivering machine constructed in accordance with and illustrating one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof; M

Fig. 3 is a top plan view correspondingto the showing of Fig. 1 with the partsin another position;

Fig. 4 is another'side view corresponding to Fig. 2 with the parts also in another position corresponding to their appearance in Fig. 3; p a V Fig. 5 is another top plan view corresponding to Figs. 1 and 3, but with the parts in still another position;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view with the overlying elements removed, showing the feeding or transfer device in detail in the position which it occupies in Fig. 3; V

Fig. 7 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view through the apparatus, taken substantially on the line 7'-7 of Figs. 3-and 4;. with the'parts in a position in which the feeding or transfer device for the envelopes is about to efiectively operate;

Fig. 8 isf'a View similar to Fig. 7 but showing the feeding or transfer device presenting a bottom'most envelope to the carrying or forwarding elements of the machine;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged transverse vertical section through the machine in the region of the general feeding or forwarding elements thereof, taken substantially on the line 99 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken vertically through the drivingmechanism shown in Fig.9.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

Referring more particularly to the draw' ings and first to Figs. -1, 2, and 7 thereof, 1 indicates the base of the machine upon which is supported a table 2, the rearward portion 3 of which is slightly lower than the forward portion. The machine feeds from left to right in the longitudinal views and, inthe present showing, was designed to supply envelopes or letters toa printing or mail marking device, the casing of which is indicated at A at the upper right in Figs. 1, 3, and 5. The printing heads or elements have been omitted, as this mechanism constitutes no part of the present invention, but is merely referred to as illustrating one useful connection in which the feeder and sealer may be utilized. The line of feed is determined by an intermittently acting feeding couple 4.5 and a continuously operating sealing and feeding couple 67, both travelling in the direction indicated by the arrows' The envelopes are presented to the feeding couple 45 and into this path of travel from a hop-' per arranged in a relatively lateral position noonns'rnn,

longitudinally of rearwardlyon thetable portion 2 by brackets 9 and thumb nuts 10. An angle'iron 11 rising from the rear side thereof abuts the ends of the envelopes in the stack E and holds them all in alinementagainst movement in the direction of feed. The rear wall consists of a plate 12 which is lined and aplate 13 held to the rear face thereof which is vertically adjustable. This adjustment is effected by means of a thumb screw 14 threaded through a flange 15 thereon and acting against and turning idly in a shouldered post 16 extending through a slot 17 in the plate 13and secured to the fixed plate 12. At its lower end or edge there is secured to plate 18a yielding, preferably rubber, extension or wall 18 which forms a gate beneath which only the lowermost envelope E of the stack E may slide. Through the instrumentalities hereinafter described, the envelopes do successively so slide-from the position of Fig. 7 to that of Fig.8, and a comparison of these figures will give an understanding of how the yielding gate cooperates with the opposed edge of another similar yielding element 19 fixed to the table portion 3 by a clip 20. This latter, as shown, embodies other rigid but shorter fingers or flanges which support the under side of the moving envelope, as shown in Fig. 8, and cooperate in moistening the flap thereof, as will be hereinafter described. The said yielding gate 18 is fastened to the plate 13 by means of screws 21 and a washer 1 The envelopes are stacked in the hopper their flaps downward, and the folded edge of the "flap toward the rear wall 12 or againstthe gate 18. Anejecting or transfer element reciprocating back and forth beneath the table 2 and the stack engages ,under the bettommost envelope between-it and its flap andby meansofthe latter thrusts itthrough the gateand betweenthe elements Ofthe feedi ng couple l5, as shown by a comparison of Figs. 7 and8, and at the same time moistens the gumon the flap in a manner that will now be described.

\ This ejector or transfer element, in the resent instance consists of a late or H 7 strai ht-ed ed blade 23 shown 1n detail in an. a i 7 V Fig. 6, with ts front edge ground or chamfered, as indicated at 24, on the under side where it engages the of the envelope, in dicated at is. It is mounted for parallel movement by being pivoted at its two ends at to two rotating cranks 2G and 27. The first of these cranks turns on a stud 28 secured to the under side of table 2,v while the other is ca rried by a vertical drivenshaft 29, the. driving of which willbe e zplained later.

t will be seen that the blade willthus move upon the. rotation of the cranks from the retracted position of Figs. 3 aud t to the positionof Figs. 1 and8, projecting the lowermost envelope, as before described, on a comparison of Figs. 7 and 8. In Fig. '5, the blade 5 is shown in its midway position on the return to retracted position in preparing to pick up the succeeding envelope.

Before the blade reaches the flap F, it passes over a moistening roll 30 that thoroughly wets its under side, which latter comes in contact with the gummed inner surface of he flap, as shown in Fig. 8, and it is here that the member 19 performs its function of pressing the flap against the wet blade, so that absorption of the film of water will be assured. The moistening roll 30 has bearings in posts 81 secured to the side of a water pan 32 in the nature of a drawer that rests on the base 1 and may be pulled out through the front of the latter for refilling orcleaning by meansof a'knob 33. Turning within the pan or drawer is the usual submerged feed roll 8 running in contact with the moistening roll 30.

Going back to the means for operating the transfer blade 23, the driven shaft 529 is geared and 86 to a drive shaft 37 (Figs. 6 and 7) running transversely from front to rear and having suitable bearings in the base 1 and on the projecting rear endof this drive shaft within acasing 38 is a pulley 39 by which it is driven through beltO from a pulley 41 on a shaft or motor as. This motion of the transfer plate is, therefore, continuous subject to the switching of the motor on and off and the timing is such as to feed the envelopes into the feeding path end to end, if desirerhor at such other intervalsas may be required in view of otheroperations to be performed thereon.

The feeding couples 4--5 and 6Z are driven through this same gearing. The lower roll 7 of the mentioned feeding and receiving couple mounted on the driving shaft 87, while its mate is carried by an overhanging bracket 13 secured to the table portions 3 at 44. The shaft 45, on whichthis roller 6 turns freel ,is'flattened at its ends. to ride against springs l6 in journalslots i? in the bracket. This arrangement causes a sealing pressure to always be applied to the flap of the envelope on top of it with the feeding contact below while at the same time allowing for variations in the thicknesses thereof.

Referring now-to the main or initial feeding couple l5, the lower roll 5 is suitably mounted to turn idly in brackets 48 secured to the underside of tabl 3. The upper element iis segmental, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4- in dotted lines, and, travelling in the direction of the arrows, intermittently confacts with the under roll 5, or, rather, with the successive envelopes as they are presentedbetween the couple by the relativelytimed actuation ofthe transfer mechanism'heretofore described. The inoperative position of element 4 is shown in Figs. l and 7, while the operative or contact position is shown in FigsQ and 8. It is the driven element and,

Leena at each contact, kicks a letter along the path of feed to the sealing rolls 67. It, too, must be yieldingly or resiliently mounted:

Mounted concentrically with the cranks 26 and 27 that give parallel motion to the transfer blade 23, as described, are a pair of cranks 49. One of these is fixed to the lower end of the vertical driven shaft 29, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, while another turns on a suitable pivot on the underside of the base plate 1 (not shown). They are con; nected by wrist pins of a yoke bar 51 having a central arm 52 projecting transversely beneath the base relatively to the path of travel of the envelope to the far side of the machine. Its end is connected by a wrist pin 53 to a crank arm 5% (Fig. 7) fixed to the lower end of a vertical shaft 55, which has a bearing in the base plate and a bearing at the top at 56 in casing 38 which forms a gear box 57 at this point. Slidable vertically in this gear l'JOX 57 in suitable guides is a bearing block or carriage 58 in which is supported a stub shaft 59 that carries the element 4 fixed thereto at its outer end. Fixed to the inner end of the stub shaft within the box is a miter-gear 60. meshing with a mitergear 61 on vertical shaft 55. It will be seen that by. these crank connections the feeding element 4 is driven in timed relationship to the transfer mechanism from shaft 29.

The shaft is free to move endwise or vertically in its bearings to a limited extent, being normally held down by a spring 62 interposed between a collar 63 on the shaft and the under side of table 3 and the yoke arm 52 is relatively long and flexible to accommodate itself to such movements while maintaining the driving connection. When the feeding element 4 comes down in contact with a letter or envelope, according to the thickness of the latter, it yields upward- 1y while rotating carrying its bearing block 58 with it, the gears and 61 remaining in mesh. The latter, through the medium of the former, raises the shaft 55 against the tension of spring 62. Asthe member 4 advances the letter and moves on in its cycle, the bearing block 58 lowers itself by gravity, the meshing of the gears being maintained by the spring 62 thrusting the shaft 55 downwardly again, so that gear 61 follows gear 60.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an envelope handling machine, the combination with means for feeding an envelope along a certain path of travel, of a stacking device arranged at one side of said path of travel, a transfer element comprising a blade associatedwith-the stacking device, and means for communicating a parallel motion to the blade toward and from said path of travel, said blade being adapted to engage the flap of an envelope in the stack and transfer it in a relativelylateral direction to the said feeding means.

Q In anenvelo'pe handling machine, the combination with means for feeding an en-- velope along, a certain path of travel, of a stacking device arranged at one side of said path of travel, a transfer element comprising a blade associated with the stacking device and adapted to engagethe flap of an envelope stacking' 'device arranged at one side of said path of travel, a transfer element comprising a blade associated with the stacking device and adapted to engage the flap of an enve-= lope in the stack and transfer it in a relatively lateral direction to the said feeding means,

and means for communicating a parallel motion to the blade into and out of said path of travel and also giving a longitudinal motion thereto in the direction of the path-of travel, comprising a pair of cranks pivotedto the blade and means for driving one of the cranks.

4.111 an envelope handling machine, the

combination with means for feeding an 'en velope along a certain path of travel, of a stacking devicearrangedat one side of said path of travel embodying a verticallyadjustable gate having a yielding lower edge, a transfer element comprising a blade associated with the stacking device, and means for communicating a parallel motion to the blade toward and from said path of travel, said blade being adapted to engage the flap of an envelope in the stack and transfer it in a relatively lateral direction to the said feedlng means.

5. In an envelope handling machine, the

combination with means for feeding an envelope along a certain path of travel, including a feeding couple comprising a lower element and an upper segmental element cooperating with each other interruptedly with feeding pressure, of a stacking device arranged at one side of said path of travel, a transfer element associated withthe stacking device and adapted to engage the flap of an envelope therein and thereby transfer the envelope in a lateral direction to the feeding means, and means for synchronizing the actuating motion ofthe said feeding couple and the said transfer element, whereby the latter presents the envelope to the couple during an interruption in their contact. 1

6. In an envelope handling machine, the combination with means for feeding an envelope along a certain path of travel including a feeding couple intermittently cooperating a stacking device a transfer element associated with the stacking device and adapted to engage the flap of an envelope therein and transfer the same to the feeding means during their intermissions, and art operating shaft having an actuating connection with the transfer device and a separate actuating connection with the feeding couple comprising a yoke bar, a pair of cranks pivoted thereto, one of which is carried on the operating shaft, a shaft geared to one element of the feeding couple and a crank on said last mentioned shaft pivoted to the yoke bar.

7. In an envelope handling machine, the combination with means for feeding an envelope along a certain path of travel comprising a fixed lower element and an upper rotary yielding element, of means for driving the latter embodying a vertically movable bearing block carrying the same, a vertically disposed and longitudinally slidable shaft, gearing between the latter and the upper element, and means for rotating the shaft.

8. In an envelope handling machine the combination with means for feeding an envelope along a certain path of travel comprising a fixed lower element and an upper r0- tary yielding element, of means for driving the latter embodying a vertically movablebearing block carrying the same, a vertically disposed and longitudinally slidable shaft, gearing between the latter and the upper element, driving and driven shafts, and crank connection between the latter and the lower end of the vertical shaft.

' AZEL GAY.

tame-e2 

